Motor City Open: Home Hopes Hanson & Harrity Progress

United States home hopes Chris Hanson and Todd Harrity secured round one wins at the Suburban Collection Motor City Open to book their places in the last 16 of the PSA Silver tournament, held in Detroit.

World No.63 Hanson secured a straight-games win over New Zealand’s World No.42 Campbell Grayson to set up a round two clash against Egypt’s former World No.3 Omar Mosaad at the Birmingham Athletic Club.

“The state of U.S. squash is getting better,” said Hanson following his win. “At a tournament like this, where guys in the top 10 or 20 are playing, we’re not quite there yet, but with some wins like this, we’ll make it known that the Americans are making a push.

“I thought I was playing at a really good pace. Even when the games were close, I felt like I could pick it up just a little more and a little more.”

Hanson will be joined by compatriot and World No.48 Harrity in round two after he defeated India’s World No.58 Vikram Malhotra by an 11-4, 11-4, 11-7 scoreline in 26 minutes.

Todd Harrity in round one

The United States No.1 will now take on Egypt’s World No.10 Mohamed Abouelghar for a place in the quarter-finals.

“The first match is the toughest in a lot of ways,” Harrity said. “The court, the crowd, the environment, it’s been awhile since your last competition. So you’re always just a bit edgy.”

Elsewhere, Mexico’s Cesar Salazar and Spain’s Iker Pajares Bernabeu both were forced to come through tough five-game battles to ensure their places in round two. Salazar came from 2-1 down to defeated Wales’ Peter Creed, while Bernabeu came from behind against England’s Chris Simpson in a mammoth 97-minute battle.

Bernabeu in action against Simpson

Salazar will now face Peru’s Diego Elias in round two, while Bernabeu will take on Australia’s Ryan Cuskelly.

Egyptians Zahed Salem and Mazen Hesham will take on number eight seed Switzerland’s Nicolas Mueller and top seed Marwan ElShorbagy, respectively, in round two after they overcame Mohamed Reda and Richie Fallows in round one.

While, there were also victories for England’s Adrian Waller, who defeated India’s Mahesh Mangaonkar in straight-games and France’s Mathieu Castagnet who saw off experienced Fin Olli Tuominen by an 11-7, 11-6, 11-5 margin.

They will now face Germany’s Raphael Kandra and number two seed Miguel Rodriguez, respectively, for a place in the last eight of the tournament.